[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1927-H1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 52) supporting the goals and 
ideals of American Heart Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 52

       Whereas heart disease affects adult men and women of every 
     age and race in the United States;
       Whereas heart disease continues to be the leading cause of 
     death in the United States;
       Whereas an estimated 79 million adult Americans, nearly one 
     in every 3, have 1 or more types of heart disease, including 
     high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart 
     failure, stroke, and congenital heart defects;
       Whereas extensive clinical and statistical studies have 
     identified major and contributing factors that increase the 
     risk of heart disease;
       Whereas these studies have identified the following as 
     major risk factors that cannot be changed: age (the risk of 
     developing heart disease gradually increases as people age; 
     advanced age significantly increases the risk); gender (men 
     have greater risk of developing heart disease than women); 
     and heredity (children of parents with heart disease are more 
     likely to develop it themselves; African Americans have more 
     severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and therefore are 
     at higher risk; the risk is also higher among Latina 
     Americans, some Asian Americans, and Native Americans and 
     other indigenous populations);
       Whereas these studies have identified the following as 
     major risk factors that Americans can modify, treat or 
     control by changing their lifestyle or seeking appropriate 
     medical treatment: high blood pressure, high blood 
     cholesterol, smoking tobacco products and exposure to tobacco 
     smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes mellitus;
       Whereas these studies have identified the following as 
     contributing risk factors that Americans can also take action 
     to modify, treat or control by changing their lifestyle or 
     seeking appropriate medical treatment: individual response to 
     stress, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, use of 
     certain illegal drugs, and hormone replacement therapy;
       Whereas more than 72 million adult Americans have high 
     blood pressure;
       Whereas more than 36.6 million Americans have cholesterol 
     levels of 240 mg/dL or higher, the level at which it becomes 
     a major risk factor;
       Whereas an estimated 46 million Americans put themselves at 
     risk for heart disease every day by smoking cigarettes;
       Whereas data released by the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention shows that more than 60 percent of American 
     adults do not get enough physical activity, and more than 25 
     percent are not physically active at all;
       Whereas 66 percent of adult Americans are overweight or 
     obese;
       Whereas 20 million adult Americans have diabetes and 65 
     percent of those so afflicted will die of some form of heart 
     disease;
       Whereas the American Heart Association projects that in 
     2007 1.2 million Americans will have a first or recurrent 
     heart attack and 452,000 of these people will die as a 
     result;
       Whereas in 2007 approximately 700,000 Americans will suffer 
     a new or recurrent stroke and 150,000 of these people will 
     die as a result;
       Whereas advances in medical research have significantly 
     improved our capacity to fight heart disease by providing 
     greater knowledge about its causes, innovative diagnostic 
     tools to detect the disease, and new and improved treatments 
     that help people survive and recover from this disease;
       Whereas the Congress by Joint Resolution approved on 
     December 30, 1963, (77 Stat. 843; 36 U.S.C. 101) has 
     requested that the President issue an annual proclamation 
     designating February as ``American Heart Month''; and
       Whereas every year since 1964 the President has issued a 
     proclamation designating the month February as ``American 
     Heart Month'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of American Heart Month;
       (2) invites the chief executive officers of the States, 
     territories, and possessions of the United States to issue 
     proclamations designating American Heart Month and 
     recognizing the goals and ideals of American Heart Month;
       (3) commends the efforts of States, territories and 
     possessions of the United States, localities, non-profit 
     organizations, businesses, and other entities, and the people 
     of the United States who support the goals and ideals of 
     American Heart Month;
       (4) recognizes and reaffirms our Nation's commitment to 
     fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its 
     causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education 
     programs, supporting research, and expanding access to 
     medical treatment;
       (5) recognizes all Americans battling heart disease, 
     expresses gratitude to their family members and friends who 
     are a source of love

[[Page H1928]]

     and encouragement to them as they combat this disease, and 
     salutes the health care professionals and medical researchers 
     who provide assistance to those so afflicted and continue to 
     work to find cures and improve treatments; and
       (6) encourages each and every American to take to heart the 
     four simple healthy life, healthy heart goals identified by 
     the HealthierUS Initiative of the U.S. Department of Health 
     and Human Services: exercise regularly and maintain a healthy 
     weight; develop good eating habits; avoid tobacco products, 
     drugs and excessive alcohol; and have regular medical 
     checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect 
     heart-disease related problems early.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 52 supporting the 
goals and ideals of American Heart Month. February is American Heart 
Month, and each year since 1963 Congress has charged the President to 
claim February American Heart Month.
  The goal of American Heart Month is to raise funds, conduct research, 
and promote education about heart disease and stroke.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart 
disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the 
major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the U.S. is 
coronary heart disease, which often first appears as a heart attack. 
Almost 1.2 million people in the U.S. will have a heart attack and 
about 700,000 people die of heart disease annually.
  Each of us should continue to take steps to prevent and control 
factors that put us at greater risk. Prevention measures certainly help 
to reduce the risks for heart disease and its effects. Additionally, 
knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most 
positive outcomes after having a heart attack. Recognizing and 
responding quickly to symptoms and receiving appropriate care can limit 
heart damage. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to 
reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future. 
Research has shown a healthy diet and life style are the best weapons 
you have to fight heart disease.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald) for her work on this issue. I certainly urge my colleagues to 
support H. Con. Res. 52.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 52, a resolution 
supporting the goals and ideals of American Heart Month. I commend Ms. 
Millender-McDonald for her efforts in bringing this resolution to the 
floor.
  Beginning in 1964, the President has issued a proclamation every year 
designating the month of February as American Heart Month. It is 
important to recognize the need for greater heart health. Heart disease 
is the leading cause of death in America. This year alone, over 1.2 
million Americans are expected to experience a heart attack. American 
Heart Month renews the need to recognize and respond to symptoms of 
heart damage.
  Great work is being done by the American Heart Association to reach 
out into communities and help provide instructional programs on heart 
disease. It is important to have policies in place that ensure access 
to screening, referral, and counseling services for stroke and heart 
disease risk factors.
  I believe Congress should continue to support the goals of American 
Heart Month. This resolution is important in that it continues to 
encourage Americans to take a healthy approach to living and protecting 
their hearts.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me 
on this important issue.
  On December 30, 1963, Congress requested that the President issue an 
annual proclamation designating February as American Heart Month. House 
Concurrent Resolution 52, supporting the goals and ideals of American 
Heart Month, reaffirms the Federal Government's commitment to fighting 
heart disease, recognizes Americans struggling with this illness, and 
encourages Americans to take preventive measures to protect themselves 
from heart disease.

                              {time}  1700

  I want to recognize the sponsor of this resolution, Representative 
Juanita Millender-McDonald, and thank her for her leadership on this 
and other critical health issues.
  Over 79 million, or one in three, American adults have cardiovascular 
disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart 
failure, stroke and congenital cardiovascular defects.
  The lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease for an individual aged 
40 is two in three of men, and over one in two for women.
  Cardiovascular disease was the underlying cause of death for well 
over a third of all the 2.4 million deaths in the United States in 
2004. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths than any other 
single cause of death in the United States. Nearly 2,400 Americans die 
of cardiovascular disease each day, an average of one death each 36 
seconds.
  The estimated direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular disease in 
2007 are $431.8 billion. Heart disease is a significant factor in 
driving up medical costs in the United States. About two-thirds of 
unexpected cardiac deaths occur without prior recognition of cardiac 
disease.
  This is an important point to underscore, and it highlights the need 
for American Heart Month. Public education can help raise awareness, 
encourage preventive measures, discourage unhealthy behaviors and 
persuade more Americans to get regular medical exams. By doing so, we 
will be able to reduce the incidences of heart disease.
  We can lower those numbers that I have just mentioned, but we can 
also improve and extend the lives of real people, our family members, 
friends and neighbors. That is what American Heart Month is all about.
  We know the risk factors that lead to heart disease: high blood 
pressure, high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, 
unhealthy diet, obesity and diabetes.
  Cigarette smoking results in a two- to threefold increased risk of 
dying from coronary heart disease.
  We also know the way to manage risk and prevent heart disease: 
regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight; healthy eating 
habits; avoidance of tobacco, drugs and excessive alcohol; getting 
regular checkups to be screened for signs of heart disease risk.
  American Heart Month is particularly important in getting the word 
out to those who are disproportionately affected by heart disease and 
who too often fail to receive the treatment they need. Women and 
minorities may have atypical symptoms when suffering a heart attack or 
angina, and if they are sent home undiagnosed, they are about twice as 
likely to die from these symptoms as those who are admitted.
  Heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country, 
claiming over 349,000 American women each year. Raising awareness and 
improving treatment and screening can save many lives.
  Forty-two percent of women who have heart attacks die within 1 year, 
compared with 24 percent of men. This may be because, on average, women 
are older than men when they have a heart attack. It also may be 
because heart disease is not typically diagnosed as or treated as 
aggressively as that in men.
  Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, hypertension, and 
stroke, is the number one killer of women in the United States. Experts 
estimate that one in two will die of heart disease or stroke, compared 
with one in 25 of women who will die of breast cancer.

[[Page H1929]]

  Existing heart disease is undiagnosed in half of women who have a 
first heart attack.
  Management of chest pains differ by sex and race. Men are more likely 
than women to receive definitive diagnoses of angina as opposed to 
vague chest pain. Women and blacks typically receive fewer 
cardiovascular medications than men and whites.
  Lack of studies on women limits usefulness of research on coronary 
heart disease. Although CHD causes more than 250,000 deaths in women 
each year, much of the research on CHD in the last 20 years has either 
excluded women or included very few women. As a result, many of the 
tests and therapies used to treat women for CHD are based on studies 
conducted predominantly in men and may not be as effective in women.
  Again, I want to thank Representative Millender-McDonald for her 
leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 52.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 52.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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